9W2DTR Ham blog pages

Lack of tools

2010-01-25T22:10:00.003+08:00

Moved in to the new house mid-dec last year. My shack is somehow still in a mess. Most things is already out of the boxes. My workbench is rather still not sufficient to accommodate most of the things I need to use.

The radio is still in the box. Antenna not installed. CNC not assembled. In order to re-assemble my CNC, I need a rigid and heavy duty table to support the weight of almost 120kg or maybe more.. With a rigid and heavy table, I may be able to reduce the noise generated by the CNC and also possible to run it at a much faster speed.

In order to have this, I may have to acquire the most important tools... a welding machine. Contacted one of my friend to sells these machines and he suggested me to get a used unit since it's only for my home use... Hmmmm... perhaps a used unit capable of argon welding maybe....

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-24T11:39:00.002+08:00

Dear All,

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010.
All the best and drive safely if you are traveling. Have a safe journey and happy holiday!!!! ho ho ho ho ho......

till then,

73

de 9w2dtr

P/S.. sorry for not updating my blog for sometime already.. I was busy with some personal matters and house renovation & moving... after all the hassle, I may be able to bring in some interesting update later...

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

2009-09-11T00:06:00.002+08:00

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:00:00 PM
Updated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:42:39 PM

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

KUALA LUMPUR: Fancy chatting with someone in the International Space Station orbiting the earth? You may get a chance to if you’re among the participants at this year’s HITBSecConf — an annual international network-security conference.

The special session will see the Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Service Society (Mares) — a non-profit, non-government organisation — attempt to establish a live communications feed with the station during the conference.

Normally, Mares members provide communications service in times of disasters or when normal communications channels are either down or congested.

The session is one of the highlights of HITBSecConf 2009, which is scheduled for Oct 5-8 at The Crowne Plaza Mutiara hotel here.

Also while the conference focuses on network security, its lock-picking workshop is popular among the participants.

This year’s workshop will be run by members from Toool — The Open Organisation of Lockpickers — and will provide attendees with the opportunity to try their hand at picking locks.

They’ll also get a chance to crack safes while some of the locks that’ll be worked on will be provided by the public.

Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran, founder and CEO of Hack In The Box (M) Sdn Bhd which organises the HITBSecConf series, said the objective of the event is to teach people how to better protect their property — both in the real world and in cyberspace.

In the case of lockpicking, he said, “Many people are unaware of how easy it is to compromise locks and other physical security mechanisms.”

He said the lock-picking workshop would educate participants in a fun and interesting manner. “Attendees are encouraged to bring their own locks from home,” he added.

For more information on HITBSecConf 2009, go to http://tinyurl.com/mosxve.

The conference has been held in Malaysia since 2003. It is endorsed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and industry, the Malaysian National Computer Confederation, and the Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation.

PIC-RF Pcb

2009-07-17T23:50:00.004+08:00

After learning how to use the EAGLE Pcb & Schematic Capture software from 9W2BSR, this is what I manage to come our with. Although I've been using Protel / Altium before, I feel that EAGLE is much easier and friendlier compared to PROTEL /ALTIUM.

As mentioned by 9W2BSR, the board below is designed to fit in a plastic box for our PIC-RF project.

UHF RF Module

2009-06-22T10:04:00.003+08:00

Finally, the 2 weeks wait is over. I received the UHF RF Transceiver module. We purchased 10 sets of it and will be using it for some experiment.

We have yet to decide what to experiment but this module is very interesting. It has the SPI interface and can be coupled with SPI capable micro controllers such as PICxxxxx. For now, will have to start thinking again...

2009-06-02T18:06:00.001+08:00

K9 Needs Help

2009-05-12T11:33:00.011+08:00

While I was on my way to Singapore on 7th May 2009, I read about this in the Sun newspaper and it kept me thinking... I took a 6am bus from Chorus Hotel to Singapore for work trip. During the whole journey, the sad picture of the dogs condition prompted me to contact 9W2BSR and 9W2XI. The reason why I contacted them is to inform them the idea and seek their suggestion.

Well.. I am so happy that 9W2BSR (Basir) and 9W2XI (Wilson) actually agreed and supported the idea. The idea was "HAMS SAVES THE DOGS"...

I understand that we all have our day jobs and we may not be able to help them personally. Therefore.. to those who are willing to contribute can submit their contribution by contacting:-

The Rescue Mission Secretariat at +6012 378 3730 (Janet) or +6012 320 8090 (Zalina).The Sec's E-mail is dogrescue.pk@gmail.com

TV Smith at tvsmith@mycen.com.my or Sabrina Yeap at yeapwen@yahoo.com

As a response to this plea... I, 9W2DTR (Dexter) & XYL (Joyce) will personally contribute RM500.00 for the mission. Although it is not that much, I hope with the rest of the contribution from others will add up and makes it more meaningful.

I wish and hope that the readers of my blog will support and contribute in any way.
To those who would like to do so.. please contact

The Rescue Mission Secretariat at +6012 378 3730 (Janet) or +6012 320 8090 (Zalina).The Sec's E-mail is dogrescue.pk@gmail.com

TV Smith at tvsmith@mycen.com.my or Sabrina Yeap at yeapwen@yahoo.com

taken from http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue/

About 300 stray dogs were rounded up
by Pulau Ketam residents and deported
to an isolated island to fend for themselves.

Over half of them are already dead and the
remaining ones may not live long. A rescue
mission is being mounted and your help is needed.

Please read the full story here

Updates here

The residents of Pulau Ketam sent some 300 stray dogs to exile on a remote island where the harsh conditions almost certainly guarantee a horrible death. Of the 300 dogs sent there, more than three-quarters are presumed to be already dead. I traveled to the island with Sabrina Yeap of Furry Friends Farm and managed to save only one dog on this reconnaissance trip. We did see several other starving and dying dogs along the mangrove shore.

I am mounting an urgent rescue mission to capture and transport the remaining survivors back to Sabrina's Furry Friends Farm animal shelter. But time is running out and there might be only skeletons and carcasses left to collect on our next trip. Boat hire is expensive there. It is a tourist area and it has already cost me a few hundred ringgit for boat hire alone, so far. The rescued dogs cannot be transported on the regular ferries.

Almost nobody will lift a finger to help without a fee. This is understandable. The locals are already shaking their heads in disbelief that there are outsiders who want to save the animals they so casually discarded. Instead of pointing fingers and antagonising them, we need their co-operation to help save the unfortunate creatures. In the process, we also hope to educate the islanders on better treatment of animals. It would be an impossible mission if we didn't win their hearts.

If you are unable to help directly, please help by forwarding this appeal to other compassionate folks who you feel might be able to make some monetary contributions.

Apart from boat hire, we need money to buy cages, to pay people to help catch them, to hire land transport to send the rescued animals to veterinary clinics, pay for vet fees, send the recovered ones to the shelter and to feed and house them for life. I can go on!

To contribute or help, e-mail TV Smith at tvsmith@mycen.com.my or Sabrina Yeap at yeapwen@yahoo.com

Update:

Furry Friends Farm
CIMB 1457-000-1182-05-6 (Current Account)
*For online interbank transfer, if it prompts for Recipient ID/Business Reg: Just type in 5766

Contributors from abroad (and Malaysia) can also:

Send by PayPal to tvsmith@gmail.com

Please retain transaction record / slip for verification and audit purposes.

Update:

For info or enquiries:
The Rescue Mission Secretariat at +6012 378 3730 (Janet) or +6012 320 8090 (Zalina)
The Sec's E-mail is dogrescue.pk@gmail.com (see updates page for info)

Fellow bloggers, you can also help by embedding the appeal poster above to your blog and linking to http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue (this page)

We are aware it is a monumental task and appreciate all forms of support, assistance, suggestions, encouragement and your prayers.

Thank you and don't forget to view the pictures of the dogs in order to appreciate their plight.

Visit also Furry Friends Farm's Blog / Website

TV Smith

3rd May 2009

My CORAL 8A-40 Full Range Drive in TQWT enclosure and the 6EW7 SE amplifier

2009-03-25T22:03:00.005+08:00

Got my Nikon SB-600 external flash.. then I decided to take the picture of my full range speaker and the vacuum tube audio amplifier using my Nikon D60.. My room looks so messy... I do my audio listening, QSO, soldering etc in this room... fortunately, the cnc is not assembled and stored in another room...

The beauty of Vacuum Tubes...

2009-02-25T12:00:00.005+08:00

It has been a long time I left my Audiophile hobby.. It all started when I was still studying and built my first solid-state audio amplifier based on the Motorola MJ15004 transistors.

Then, after listening and playing with it for quite sometimes, it was sold to a friend which is now a long gone friend.. lost contact. I started again but not with solid-state.... I have build my first vacuum tube amplifier based on EL34 tubes configured in single ended mode. Wow.. that was my first vacuum tube audio amplifier. However, it did not last long too.. this time, the output transformer gone kaput. The primary winding open circuit due to the bias current is to high.. It was waste as the output transformer is given by 9W2ECG. The output transformer made by TDK Japan and it's no longer in production. I shouldn't have thrown it away though...

Unable to enjoy my own audio system at home is really boring again... I build another one.. this time using KT88 tubes.. but in push-pull design using Hammond output transformer... and configured in ultra-linear push-pull. But i was a disappointment as it doesn;t sound as good as what I have before... sold it to a friend again...

Then built a 12W single ended using 300B tubes and paired with Audio Note output transformer. I actually build the Reichert 300B circuit, housed in a mirror finish stainless steel casing. All the parts used is premium.. Kiwame resistor, Blackgate audio grade capacitors, Audio Note copper foil coupling capacitor and poin to point circuit. NO PCBs!

This time, the 12 watter amplifier push me to the ground!! The fat lady sang! with a sweet warm and clear sound driving my midrange JBL speaker. NO! it's not enough yet.. my JBL speaker cant deliver what the 300B is supposed to have... frustration again... I've been conned by a man who promised me to sell this amplifier at his shop.. 3 day after I sent the amplifier to his shop, he claimed that it was stolen.. what the heck!! He supposed to compensate me but that was just a promise.. up to today.. I only receive 2% of the money... so.. that was it.. I quit! After all, I have to move to Penang to work and I dont have a proper place... Sold all my other equipments... Then all became a grand father story... LOL

A few moons ago, I started to have the itch again... Then, 9W2ECG have the solution for me... this time with a 1.2W single-ended 6EW7 tubes...with a double C-core output transformer...
It is now singing happily in my room driving a pair of extinct driver.. a pair of CORAL 8A-40, 93db/w/m full range driver planted in a TQWT enclosure... yeah baby yeah!! 1.2W with a full range driver is enough.. loud enough if you want it to be loud... forget those with 100W or 300W or even 500W... this little baby is giving out 1.2W r.m.s.... not those peak output or p.m.p.o kind of output.. it's RMS!! But my CD player cant do justice to it.. I need to get another good CD player to deliver those good recordings...

Have you listened to a 2 watter driving a 104db/w/m speaker? Well, that doesn't fit my bills but I did have a chance to listen to it...

It's raining..........

2009-02-06T12:25:00.001+08:00

Capacitive Discharge Spot Welder

2009-01-09T11:32:00.015+08:00

It has been a very busy year end for me...

My magnetic loop antenna project is still on hold as the cnc machine is now disassembled.
I cant run the machine at the new place... boring!

At the moment, I am in the process of making a Capacitive Discharge Spot Welder or Hobby Spot Welder for a friend. It uses a large capacitor bank and a high current triac to dump the energy through a solid copper probe. My current setup have about 190 Joules of energy at 25VDC.

The charging is done via LT1083-adj regulator with current limit and switched using a Solid -state relay. Previously, the mechanical relay I used gone "kaput" as the contact is welded together due to large current surge and sparks.

Magnetic Loop Antenna... anyone??

2008-10-15T22:28:00.002+08:00

Well.. google it if you want to know more about it.... but for those who have experienced it...
the answer is loved it or hate it..

Myself?... yet to be known.. I have a few attempts in building this antenna quiet sometime ago but failed due to the unavailability of a suitable variable capacitors locally... although plenty is available in ebay, diy is still the most attractive solution.

Before I start building, I will need to make and gather a few item..

1. Variable capacitor ( Butterfly type)
2. Low speed DC motor remote controller (thinking of tuning capacitor via coax)
3. 6-10mm copper tubing
4. Aluminum bicycle rim, preferably from 28" road bike
5. Some non conductive mounting and fixtures
6. whatever I feel needed... :)

The very important part that I must first have is the variable capacitor and must be able to go down to the lowest capacitance.. I am thinking of trying to get from 5pf to 200pf with a plate spacing of 1mm.

Therefore, the first stage is to draw and machine the capacitor plates. Stay tuned!!!

Hari Raya Aidilfitri..

2008-09-24T20:17:00.002+08:00

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI to all my muslim friends....

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is just around the corner. My muslim friends will "balik kampung" mostly on friday evening and saturday to meet their beloved family..

I would to take this opportunity to say Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri..
Please drive safely and have a safe journey home....

The month of Ramadhan

2008-09-06T13:18:00.004+08:00

For over one billion Muslims throughout the world, Ramadhan is a special month of the year. During the month of Ramadhan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. Ramadhan was the month in which the first verses of the holy Qur'an were revealed to Prophet Mohammad. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. The sighting of the new moon at the end of Ramadhan heralds the celebration of Aidilfitri.

As a non-muslim, I respect my muslim friends who is fasting.. I still remember when we were outstation in JB, I woke up early for 'sahur' and went to work. At the end of the day, we will head for places to "berbuka puasa" with others... I must say, even as a non-muslim, the month of Ramadhan is also a very exciting month for me.

I would like to wish my muslim friends... Selamat Menyambut Puasa Ramadhan.

On air again???

2008-08-24T22:23:00.001+08:00

I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
and I swear like the shadow that's by your side

I see the questions in your eyes
I know what's weighing on your mind
You can be sure I know my part
Cause I stand beside you through the years
You'll only cry those happy tears
And though I make mistakes
I'll never break your heart

And I swear by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there
I swear like the shadow that's by your side I'll be there
For better or worse
Till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear

I'll give you every thing I can
I'll build your dreams with these two hands
We'll hang some memories on the wall
And when (and when) just the two of us are there
You won't have to ask if I still care
Cause as the time turns the page
My love won't age at all

And I swear (I swear) by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there (I'll be there)
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)

For better or worse
Till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear

And I swear (I swear) by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there (I'll be there)
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)

For better or worse (better or worse)
Till death do us part I'll love you
With every single beat of my heart
I swear I swear I swear

I Love the Whole World

2008-08-06T13:54:00.006+08:00

I love the mountains,
I love the clear blue skies,
I love big bridges,
I love when great whites fly,
I love the whole world and all its sights and sounds

boom deee yadaa
boom dee yadaaa
boom dee yadaaa
boom dee yadaaa

I love the ocean, I love real dirty things,
I love to go fast,
I love Egyptian kings,
I love the whole world and all its craziness

boom deee yadaa
boom dee yadaaa
boom dee yadaaa
boom dee yadaaa

I love tornados,
I love arachnids,
I love hot magma, I love the giant squids
I love the whole world its such a brilliant place

boom deee yadaa
boom dee yadaaa
boom dee yadaaa
boom dee yadaaa

Rock Crawler

2008-07-07T12:17:00.010+08:00

It has been very quiet lately... but I managed to squeeze a bit of time from my busy work schedule... too many hobby but too little time...

I have been building a Rock Crawler in the weekend and sometimes late at night whenever I feel restless....

All this while I like 4x4 vehicle. My favorite is always a Toyota BJ40. However, I can't afford to own any 4x4 vehicles... and with the current fuel price.. it's a big no no..

But I still can enjoy the fun of maneuvering a 4x4 vehicle over rock terrain or muddy terrain
with my 2.2 scale RC Rock Crawler..

Based on Axial Scorpion AX10 from Axial Racing, I build a tube chassis resembling a Poison Spyder Bruiser chassis. A 1:1 version is custom built by Spyder Customs.

My tube chassis is built from a 6mm steel tubing and brazed together with a 35% silver brazing rods. Bending and cutting is the toughest job plus getting the measurement right.

A 1:1 scale Poison Spyder Bruiser 2

Initial Modelling using Solidworks and how it all begins...

Finally... a test run video taken by a friend...

Click here

Nikon D60 Workshop

2008-06-08T22:26:00.009+08:00

It's Sunday, and it's my rest day... however, I still have to get up early today..although I slept late last night after watching the Euro 2008 match and Formula One qualifying on Astro.

Today, I have to attend the Nikon D60 workshop which I sign up early May. Since I bought the Nikon D60 DSLR camera, I need to get familiarized how to use it. I have never shoot using DSLR before. The workshop is organized by Nikon Malaysia and the classes is conducted by Nikonian Academy...

The workshop was excellent and I actually learn a lot from there. The instructor is good and friendly.. plus a sense of humor which makes the class a lot more fun and lively... Credits to Sean Liew, Noorsham Mohd Noor and Mohamad Izham...

There is a tea break and lunch provided and it's good too... couldn't ask for more though... for RM20.00/person, with the knowledge you get plus good food and beautiful models for photo shoot...... it's really worth it.

Here are some of the photo I took with my Nikon D60 DSLR Camera. Not edited, still learning and just being resized!

Got bitten

2008-05-15T14:29:00.004+08:00

All this while, I've been lugging my HP 12" notebook to office and site. 9W2BSR recently bought the ASUS Eee PC from Digitall Mall, Petaling Jaya.

After some reading over the internet like what 9W2BSR did, the bug finally bit me...
With slight hesitation which was easily suppressed by 9W22BSR for his light whispering through the air plus a creature with a horn on the forehead sitting right in front of me smiling and blowing a soft words "go and get it" into my ears.....

When I got the unit, I was impressed with the size...but well.. what to expect for such price... after all, it's 4Gb SSD. It came loaded with Linux OS. Not even 1hr, the penguin is chased away and replaced with Windows XP Sp2.

The very next day, bought 2 8Gb Sandisk Cruzer thumbdrive and hacked it open. I wired it to the 2 spare USB point internally. The warranty is now officially voided.

Just like the rest of Eee PC owners, modding this little wonder is definately something interesting. I may jump into installing the touch screen, bluetooth and GPS later.... or maybe even bigger SSD.

For now, having 8Gb + 8Gb + 4Gb = 20Gb.. enough for now...

Let's see what 9W2AFY will do... :)

For reference on how to mod Eee PC..

1. EEE PC How-To Articles, Tweaks and Tips

2. XP on the Eee PC - EeeHackers

3. Eee PC internal upgrades

Caution!

2008-05-14T20:32:00.000+08:00

WARNING!!! D.I.Y IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND ADDICTIVE.
Once you are in... no way out!!!

MARES Flea Market - April 13th 2008

2008-04-24T11:45:00.002+08:00

Nikon D60 DSLR

2008-04-21T02:38:00.001+08:00

I have always wanted a DSLR camera. After searching and contemplating between brands and model and also budget. I finally decided to go with NIKON D60. Well, don;t ask me is it good? I am still new and learning about photography.... till then... let me play with it....

Why?

2008-04-12T05:15:00.002+08:00

Wondering why there is not much of update in my blog lately??
It's because I am occupied with so many things at the moment. Mostly it's about work... but somehow hobby too.

I am trying to learn PIC programming in C language. I have never done a micro-controller programming before. At work, I don't have to key in the syntax.. it's a GUI method programming. However, there are time where I need to type all the command syntax when High Level Interface is required. Luckily, the equipment we use only needs BASIC. However, although it's in BASIC, I still have trouble... why??? So now it's time to learn again.

If you are interested, do join us here.

Mobile Handsfree Microphone

2008-03-22T01:50:00.002+08:00

If you have been here, this is a very interesting project to jump into provided you have the D.I.Y spirit. However, if you feel that you like a commercially finished product and not interested to heat up the soldering iron and fabricating PCB, this would be more suitable for you.

I found this at WATER & STANTON

PIC - the resurrection of interest!

2008-03-17T22:09:00.002+08:00

Some people are restless when they have nothing to do... they can't sit still even for 5 minutes without thinking something. Their minds is like a clock that always ticking. It will only stops... when .......... (you fill the blanks yourself).

In my case, and some of my buddies... it seems that we need to do something in our idle time... that's mean, we DON'T HAVE IDLE TIME... it's somehow missing but does pop out sometimes when we need some drug prescriptions.... but still... we end up thinking of something....geez... that's kinda scary huh...

Today, I placed an order for PIC development board from Futurlec. I order 4 pcs but it's not all for me. It's for me and my buddies. We wanted to learn how to program PIC.

I hope the package will arrive soon.... yeahaaaaaaaa....

9W2DTR Ham blog pages

Lack of tools

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:00:00 PMUpdated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:42:39 PM

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

PIC-RF Pcb

UHF RF Module

K9 Needs Help

My CORAL 8A-40 Full Range Drive in TQWT enclosure and the 6EW7 SE amplifier

The beauty of Vacuum Tubes...

It's raining..........

Capacitive Discharge Spot Welder

Magnetic Loop Antenna... anyone??

Hari Raya Aidilfitri..

The month of Ramadhan

On air again???

I Love the Whole World

Rock Crawler

Nikon D60 Workshop

Got bitten

Caution!

MARES Flea Market - April 13th 2008

Nikon D60 DSLR

Why?

Mobile Handsfree Microphone

PIC - the resurrection of interest!

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:00:00 PM
Updated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:42:39 PM